 | Kirk M. Bauer, JD
Executive Director, Disabled Sports USA U.S. Army, Retired Kirk Bauer firmly believes that the military philosophy of leadership by example is the most effective way to inspire others to dream big and achieve their goals. A Vietnam War veteran, he is the recipient of two Bronze Stars and the Purple Heart. At age 65, he leads an active sports life, participating with wounded warriors, youth, and others in skiing, biking, hiking, golf, mountain climbing and more. In 2010, he led a team of amputee veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars on a successful summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, which at 19,341 feet is the highest mountain in Africa. In June 2012, Bauer led a team of five wounded warriors, with “four good legs”, including two double leg amputees, on a climb up Alaska’s Mt. McKinley. At 20,320 feet, it is highest mountain in North America and has some of the most severe weather in the world; the team reached 15,500 feet before having to end the 21 day climb due to severe weather. |
| As DSUSA’s Executive Director since 1982, Kirk has taken a small, all volunteer organization, and made it one of the nation’s largest sports and recreation organizations serving over 60,000 youth and adults with disabilities annually. For his achievements, he has been awarded the Gene Autry Courage Award and selected as the 1986 Healthy American Fitness Leader, an honor presented yearly by the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.
In 2008, he was awarded the George M. Steinbrenner III Sports Leadership Award by the U.S. Olympic Committee in recognition of his outstanding contribution to sports. In May 2013, he was awarded the President’s Council Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the advancement or promotion of physical activity, fitness, sports, or nutrition nationwide.In 2006, Kirk received a presidential appointment to serve on the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. He was appointed by President Bush to represent the United States at the 2006 Paralympics in Torino and the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing. Kirk holds a Doctorate of Law Degree from Boston University School of Law and a BA in Political Science from the University of California. He is a native of Oakland, California and now lives near Baltimore, Maryland. His son Joshua is 27. | |
 Insha Afsar |  Petty Officer 1st Class Kevin Burton US Navy, Retired | 
Petty Officer 3rd Class Chris Devlin-Young US Coast Guard, Retired |
 Specialist Richard Dyer US Army, Retired |  Sergeant Joshua Elliott US Marine Corps, Retired |  Sergeant Kirstie Ennis US Marine Corps, Retired |
 Brigadier Fred Hargreves British Army |  Noah Hotchkiss |  Lexie Jordan |
 Liam Jordan |  Kep Koeppe |  Sergeant Jon Lujan US Marine Corps, Retired |
 Sergeant Matthew Melancon US Army, Retired |  Specialist Richard Messer US Army, Retired |  Zach Miller |
 Jason Moore |  Staff Sargeant Todd Morand US Marine Corps, Retired |  Specialist Kyle Moxley US Army, Retired |
 Corporal Chad Ohmer US Marine Corps, Retired |  Sergeant Dan Ord British Army |  Erik Petersen |
 Warrant Officer Anthony Radetic US Army, Retired |  Reggie Showers |  Petty Officer 1st Class Bryan Stuart US Navy, Retired |
 Corporal Darren Swift British Army, Retired |  Chris Tatsuno |  Kyle Taulman |
 Officer Cadet Ollie Thorn British Army, Retired |  Paige VanArsdale |  AK Walker |
 Petty Officer 3rd Class David Williams US Navy, Retired |  Corporal Ash Winter British Army, Retired |  Spencer Wood |